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Major League Soccer

Portland End New York’s Unbeaten Run

New York City Football Club have had an impressive, unbeaten start to the season, but that undefeated run finally came to an end after seven games, at the hands, or feet rather, of the Portland Timbers.

Portland defeated visiting New York 3-0 at Providence Park on Sunday, on the backs of goals from Sebastian Blanco, Fanendo Adi and Larrys Mabiala respectively.

Highlights:

Sunday marked the first match this year in which NYCFC has failed to score and pick up points, and it came at a time when Patrick Vieira has been heavily rumored to replace legendary manager Arsene Wenger at former club Arsenal.

Vieira has been quoted saying he feels he has the “potential” to lead the Gunners one day.

Chivas Guadalajara Protest Club Directors Ahead of CCL Final

Ahead of the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Final against Toronto Football Club, players of Mexican side Chivas Guadalajara protested the club’s directors.

Twenty one players posed for a picture posted on Twitter on Saturday with the hashtag #DirectivaCumplanSuParte, which translates from Spanish to “Directors fulfill your part”.

Chivas’ players are reportedly dissatisfied due to a lack of promised bonus payments, poor communication with the club’s directors, travel logistics and even unsatisfiable nutrition.

Toronto and Guadalajara are set to meet again on Wednesday, April 25, at the Estadio Akron in Mexico. Chivas currently holds a 2-1 aggregate lead in the final series, after defeating TFC 2-1 in the first leg.

US Soccer

US Men’s National Team to Add GM in “coming weeks”

New United States Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro has promised and “expects” to fill the newly created role General Manager for the USMNT in the “coming weeks.”

According to the USSF, the General Manager position has been created to help oversee all technical aspects of the senior National Team team, including the hiring of the team’s next head coach.

Update from US Soccer, including reforms to improve oversight and accountability and to serve our members better. Working together, we can take soccer in America to new heights! #AimHigherpic.twitter.com/tL82c0c7b3

ESPN FC sources have confirmed that current Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Earnie Stewart and former New York Red Bulls Sporting Director Ali Curtis have already been interviewed for the new position.

Global

Liverpool’s Salah Wins PFA Player of the Year Award

Philly Football Daily contributors and Scousers Cal Dymowski and Noah Barnes have got their wish.

On Sunday, Liverpool’s star midfielder, Mohammed Salah, beat out Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, winning this season’s PFA Player of the Year award.

Salah has been on fire for the Reds this season, having scored more than 40 goals for the Merseyside club across all competitions and leading Liverpool to the UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals for the first time since the 2007/2008 season.

Picking up an award for the Cityzens was budding German midfielder Leroy Sane, who was confirmed as the PFA’s Young Player of the Year.

Turning our attention from England to Italy, where Napoli stunned Serie A frontrunners Juventus in Turin on Sunday evening to create a genuine title race with four matches to go in the season.

The Partenopei had previously not won in Turin in close to a decade. However, that changed on Sunday night, when Senegal international Kalidou Koulibaly rose up for a thumping header in the 90th minute that flew past a helpless Gianluigi Buffon.

Highlights:

With the win, Napoli cut the gap between them an Juve to just a single point.

Thanks for reading Monday’s News Roundup. Check back here, on Wednesday morning, for the latest happening in The Beautiful Game. Until then, Cheers.